Sydney, On the Rocks

Our morning adventure was "On the Rocks" -- the site where, in January 1788, the First Fleet landed on a rocky peninsula on the west shore of Sydney Bay.  This was where the first convict encampment and military camp were located, and where the port was developed.   The streets are still cobblestones, the brick buildings cling to the sandstone rocks, but now the area is a bustling haven of shops, art galleries, hotels, and restaurants.  In a park, at the foot of the Rocks, we encountered a local

The area is just west of Circular Quay -- a transpoartation hub where trains, trams, buses and ferries all come together.  Imagine a semi circle where on the left you have a cruise terminal, in front of you you have five ferry piers (with two berths each) and on the right you have a peninsula ringed with hotels and restaurants that extends out to the point where the Opera House sits.

Island Princess

Cicular Quay Ferry Terminals
from in front of the Island Princess

A statue of the imfamous Captain Bligh - of Mutiny on the Bounty fame.  

Northward, towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge, we found Campbell Cove, the Southern Swan sailing ship and great views of the Opera House.

can you see the idiots who pay money to climb the bridge?

The Southern Swan, with the Opera House and the Island Princess

behind her.

Here's the Opera House.  You can see the area we were yesterday if you look closely under the sail on the very left.  Under the center (tallest) sail you can see the Portside restaurant where we had dinner.

From Campbell Cove we headed south again and found a street market or street fair opening up.

an interesting statue- soldier on this side
immigrants on another

Right near the waterfron was a small cottage,

The guy for whom it was named was sentenced to death for stealing a horse in England, but his sentence was commuted and he was transported to Sydney in 1797.  He worked as convict laborer helping to build the port.  He was pardoned in 1813 and later became master of a ship.  He started working for the government, and served as the last and longest Superintendent of Government Boats, living in this cottage from 1827-1845. 

The streets are narrow and old.

We found one area that looked like Rainbow Row because all the buildings were different.

Police Station right in the middle of Rainbow Row.

To finish off our morning we were sitting on a bench in a park nearby and we were talking to a Visitor Services Ranger who was an Army vet who had been at Camp Pendleton back in the '80s.  We mentioned that we were from Alaska, and a voice from behind us on another bench said "Where, Soldotna?"  Turns out she lives in Anchorage, and was here on the cruise ship. SMALL WORLD!!